Spatio-temporal changing pattern of LULC: An Overview

Bhatar block is one of the most densely populated block in the district of Burdwan. With the growing population, and their increasing requirements in various sectors, land use land cover (LULC) patterns are undergoing a qualitative as well as quantitative change in which the area under agriculture is gradually increasing. Unprecedentedly forest cover of the block has also increased its area during assessment period. Different land use and demographic data were extracted from Census of India. Information regarding land use change was collected from field survey during 2015–16 and different secondary sources. Microsoft Excel, Arcview3.2a and QGIS2.12 RS-GIS software were used for the study. Over 80% land of the block is used as cultivated land against 46% for India. This is possible for the presence of the highly fertile soils on the Ajoy-Damodor flood plain. Above 75% population of the area depends directly and indirectly on agricultural activity. Experience gathered during field visit and information collected from local farmers that numbers of ponds of the region have been terminated and converted into agricultural field which is unsustainable for the local ecology and environment. The high rate of depletion of water bodies would affect local weather, soil quality, crop quality and quantity and hence the living pattern of people of the region in future.